Genesis 18:1-15

Three Visitors Come to Abraham

The Promise of a Son to Abraham

2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby.

 

When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.

 

3 He said, "If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by.

 

4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree.

 

5 Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant."

 

"Very well," they answered, "do as you say."

 

6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. "Quick," he said, "get three seahs of fine flour and knead it and bake some bread."

 

7 Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it.

 

8 He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them.

 

While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.

 

9 "Where is your wife Sarah?" they asked him.

 

"There, in the tent," he said.

 

10 Then the LORD said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son."

 

Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him.

 

11 Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing.

 

12 So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, "After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?"

 

13 Then the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now that I am old?'

 

14 Is anything too hard for the LORD ?

 

I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son."

 

15 Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, "I did not laugh."

 

But he said, "Yes, you did laugh."

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This is the Word of the Lord ... It is meant to change the way that we think, and the way that we live.

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Commentary by Bob Pardue

Three Visitors come to Abraham

The question is asked in verse 14; "Is anything too hard for the LORD?"

Too Big for God?

The answer is simple. Absolutely nothing is too difficult for God. He created all things and knows our every problem and thought. The next time we have a problem too big for us to handle let's try to insert our situation in the statement; "Is this too hard for God?"

• Is my situation at work too hard for God?
• Are my relationship struggles with my spouse too hard for God?
• Is breaking this bad habit too large for God to handle?

In His Way

God knows our every need and can handle any situation we can fathom. He will not always handle it in exactly the way we would like but solves the problems in ways that are in our best interest and in His will for our lives.

Prayer

God can handle it if we just ask. He knows what we need and sometimes has to get our attention to bring us back to Him.

The Farmer and the Mule

This reminds me of the tale about the farmer who was always telling the townspeople how good he was to his mule. But one day a man was traveling past the farmer's field and saw the old farmer hitting his mule on the head with a big board.

When the man stopped and reminded the farmer of how he was always bragging about being good to his mule the farmer just answered in a calm voice;

"I am always good to my mule but it is sometimes necessary for me to get the mule's attention."

Sometimes it is necessary for God to get our attention as well so He allows a wrinkle in our lives now and then. Remember this the next time a problem arises and ask yourself; "Is this too hard for God?"

Love in Christ

- Bob

Genesis 14:1-24 - Abram Rescues Lot during the War of the Kings